Something we all take for granted now is such a simple idea, it's astonishing that it had to be patented. But yes, before perforation, tearing the sheets was something you had to do by hand and, according to Wheeler himself, used to waste a lot of paper.

His idea was, very simply, that "the sheets of paper are only partially separated, having their points of attachment arranged in a novel manner, whereby each sheet will easily separated from the series as it is drawn from the roll, there being no litter occasioned, and any waste of paper is thereby prevented."

Yes. No waste at all. At least that was the idea.

Wheeler's Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company was the first company in the world to manufacture toilet paper.

And the drawing on his patent is so conclusive that anyone disagreeing with it can basically shut up.